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Pollution prevention
Unintentional losses from routine activities could be costing you money. For ideas and information on reducing diffuse pollution risks and how this can benefit the farm business, visit www.farmingandwaterscotland.org.
Read More >Abattoir Issues
The following are topics that the abattoirs would like to keep reminding their supplier.
Read More >How Fat Are Your Cows?
In many parts of the UK cows are entering the winter in very good condition. This is unlikely to be the case for herds in southern England following the severe shortage of grass from the August drought.
Read More >Gaining BVD Negative Status Via Tissue Tag Testing
Herds using tissue tags can achieve negative status once ALL calves born in a 12 month period have been tested for BVD virus with negative results.
Read More >Sheep Slats
A hot topic at this time of year is straw availability and housing strategies for the winter. But is there any other option to housing sheep?
Read More >Reduce Lamb Losses Using A Ram MOT
Analysis of lambing records show loss increases after the first cycle for ewes have lambed. Later lambing ewes have higher mortality as diseases build and lambing staff get tired.
Read More >Maedi Visna (MV) – On The Increase
MV has a long incubation period and it can spread unnoticed within, and between, flocks for many years before the non-specific signs are seen.
Read More >Fog fever
Fog fever is a condition usually seen in the autumn in adult cattle at grass. It is thought to be caused by the ingestion of a substance called L-tryptophan, which is converted in the rumen to substances which are toxic to lung tissue. The condition is most commonly seen within two weeks of a move from sparse to lush pasture.
Read More >Beware red clover
Grazing red clover or eating red clover silage at tupping time can affect ewes fertility. Breeding ewes should avoid eating red clover for six weeks before and after tupping.
Read More >Cysticercus ovis or sheep measles
C.Ovis is the larval stage of a tapeworm that affects animals such as dogs, foxes, etc. This does not transfer to humans. The adult tapeworm called Taenia ovis lives in the intestine of the dog/fox and eggs are shed in the faeces.
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